Key for office devices



M. H. MANDELBAUM AND B. R. WEBSTER.

KEY FOR OFFICE DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. Io. 1920.

1,376,958. PaIenIed May3,1921.

fm 7 M J7 tw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE n. MANDELEAUM, or CHICAGO, AND BESTER R. WEBSTER, 0E ELGIN, ILLI- NOIS, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT\AND MESNE AS IGNMENTS, T0 BRANDT CASHIER COMEANY, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

Y KEY EoR oEEICE DEVICES.v

cation.

Our invention relates to keys for accounting and typing machines, and particularly to a novel construction in which a removable button is employed.

It is found desirable in the use of many machines adapted for oiiice work to provlde for the removal of the key buttons.l Not onlyl is this sometimes useful in operation but in other cases is essential in the manufacturing operation. To that end w e have devised a key of this character 1n whlch the button or disk which is secured to the end of the stem or shank of the key, is firmly held in position by the use of very slmple means.

We have furthermore, improved the means by which the s mbol disk is secured ttljg'key button. T 1s disk v1s commonly forined of celluloid or paper backed by a cushion member such as cardboard and covered in some instances by a circular piece of glass. A difficulty has been experlenced in so,mounting these symbol disks that they will not rotate in practice. To that end we have provided lnterengagi-ng lugs and notches on the parts, these serving the pur# pose of preventing rotation 1n servlce and assisting in locating the symbols 1n proper relation when assembling.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through -a key constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the hne 2-2 of Fig. 1.;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the key, and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the stem or shank of the key.

In the drawings it will be seen that the shank 10, is provided at its upper extremlty with two lugs 11, the` formation of which Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Application med January 1o, 1920. serial No. 356,635.

results in a recess 12. A second shallow recess 13, 1s provided at the middle portion of the shank, this recess being in register with slde grooves 14, on the stem. The Side grooves terminate in notches 15, having rounded bottoms, as best shownin Figs. 1 and 4.

The key button comprises a disk 16, having recesses 17, therein, adapted to accommodate the lugs 11 and provided also with a central elongate( recess 18, which accommodates a projection 19, from a web 20, which projects downwardly from the disk. This web is centrally notched or recessed as atr21, to provide spring-arms 22, having rounded ends, these arms being adapted to be guided in the grooves 14, and be snapped into the notches 15, in the sides of the stem. The projection 19, on the web is swaged or otherwise lpermanently fixed in position. The notch 13 in the stem engages with the central portion ofthe web which isnot cut away. Thus it will be seen'that while the button is removable it is firmly held in its position against the possibility of accidental displacement.

In practice the downwardly projecting web 20, is punched to provide the recess 21, the space allowed between the terminal portions of the arms 22, being slightly less than the thickness of the shank at the guide grooves 14; thus in order to seat the key the arms 22, must be slightly forced apart while passing along the grooves to the recess 15, the natural resiliency of the metal making this possible. Of course, it is entirely practical to omit the notches 15, in the shank, and to rely on the binding effect of the side arms on the shank for holding the button in place. This is particularly practical in view of the interengagement of the button and shank at three different points and the bracing of the button by the use of the arms which engage the shank at a considerable distance from the disk.

Projecting upwardly from the disk 16, are peripheral side lugs 23, and mounted on the upper face of the disk of the button is a lugs and recesses thus serving as va means for assisting in locating the disks in assembling and preventing rotation thereof in service. The disks may be held in )osition by a ring or band 26, having a bea ed margin 27, and held in position by ears 28, in the well known manner.

A key constructed in the manner describe will be found to possess many advantages not resent in those heretofore suggested. Modifications may be made therein and such changes as are within the scope of our claims we consider to be Within the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. A readily removable key for accounting and typing machines, comprising in combination, a shank having lugs at its ex-V tremity and a notch at a point removed from the end, a disk having recesses adapted to accommodate the shank lugs, and said disk having a resilient, downwardly projecting arm adapted to shde along said shank and engage the notch therein whereby the disk is firmly and removably held in engagement with the shank, substantially as described 2. In a key, the combination of a stem having a plurality of lugs projecting from the end thereof, a disk having recesses adapted to accommodate said lugs, and a web projecting downwardly from the center of said disk, said web being transversely divided to provide spring-arms, said stem being notched at a point removed from the end thereof, said arms being adapted to engage the notches to removably hold the disk against endwise removal, substantially as described.

3. In a key, the combination of a stem having end projections, a disk having recesses adapted to accommodate said projections, sad disk being provided with a downwardly projecting web arranged in a plane at right angles to that of the stem, the stem being provided with a central guidin slot terminating in a notch at its lower en and said web being vertically notched to permit engagement with the stem, the stem eing guided and held in position by engagement of the extremities of the notched web with the guide and notch in the stem, substantially as described.`

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 19th day of December, 1919.

MAURICE H. MANDELBAUM. BESTER R. WEBSTER.

Witness T. D. BUTLER. 

